Bhubaneswar: The MMDR Amendment Act 2026 would severely affect Odisha’s financial interests, the state’s Congress organisational vice president Santosh Singh Saluja claimed on Tuesday.
The amendment will lead to an annual loss of around Rs 20,000 crore to the state, he said, while speaking at the INDI Alliance conclave at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar.
Mining was one of Odisha’s major sources of revenue, Saluja pointed out, accusing the BJP-led “double-engine government” of ignoring the state’s interests.
“Odisha’s minerals and land belong to Odisha, but the Centre has brought provisions under the MMDR Amendment Act 2026 that will leave the state with virtually no rights over its mineral resources,” the Congress leader said.
The nearly Rs 1.10 lakh crore allegedly due to Odisha would also become difficult for the state to recover under the new provisions, he claimed.
He referred to a 2024 Supreme Court judgment and said the court had upheld the states’ power to levy taxes on mineral-bearing lands. The Centre’s latest legislation sought to override the spirit of the judgment, he said.
Saluja gave figures to strengthen his claim that mining contributes significantly to Odisha’s economy. The state had earned around Rs 46,000 crore in mining revenue last year, while the figure for 2024-25 was around Rs 43,000 crore, he said.
“If Odisha loses around Rs 20,000 crore every year, how will the state’s development take place?” he asked.
The INDI Alliance parties had come together to highlight what they termed the Centre’s “injustice” towards Odisha and demand withdrawal of the legislation, the Congress leader said.
Saluja also criticised Odisha MPs who, according to him, were supporting the amendment despite its alleged adverse impact on the state.
The INDI Alliance would organise four zonal meetings over the next four months to mobilise public support against the amendment, he said. The Opposition would also consider an economic blockade as part of its agitation to press the Centre to repeal the legislation and “ensure justice for Odisha”, he said.